10/29/2026
October is National Principals Month, and we're rounding out our spotlights with one of our remarkable administrators: Jamie McCarty, Principal of Stayton High School!
Jamie is a dedicated veteran educator entering his 29th year in education. He served in the NSSD for the first 16 years of his career in multiple roles. After working in a nearby district, he returned “home” to take over as the Principal of Stayton High School in July 2025. Raised in North Bend, OR, Jamie earned both his undergraduate degree and Master’s in Education from Western Oregon University. While there, he played point guard on the basketball team for four years, serving as a team captain and earning All-American honors. He later completed his administrative credential through Portland State University.
Jamie's career began at Stayton High School, where he taught health and physical education and served as the Vice Principal and Athletic Director. He attended Portland State University to earn his administrator’s license and over the past two decades, he has led several schools as principal—including Sublimity, Stayton Intermediate/Middle, Victor Point, Evergreen, Silver Crest, Pratum, and Robert Frost.
As an administrator, Jamie is driven by the opportunity to shape a positive school climate and support teachers and students at the highest levels. His theme for this school year is "It's Time to Climb"—a rallying call to foster culture, community pride, and academic excellence, ensuring Stayton High School is a place where students and staff thrive.
Family is at the center of Jamie's life. He and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 31 years. They have three children—Brooke (Linfield graduate and nurse), Jordan (a senior at WOU pursuing a degree in business), and Elijah (an 8th grader at Sublimity School)—and a grandson, Bryson.
Q and A’s with Jamie:
Q: What is a skill that you learned from one of your first jobs that you use as a principal today?
A: One of the most valuable skills I learned early in my career came from being a coach. Coaching taught me how to bring a group of people together around a common purpose, set clear goals and high expectations, and hold everyone accountable—including myself. Coaching taught me that great teams don’t happen by accident. You build them every day by working together, challenging one another, celebrating successes, and constantly striving to be the best at what we do.
Q: What was the absolute coolest trend or fashion item that stands out to you from middle school or high school?
A: Kids taking pride in wearing their letterman jackets.
Q: What is one of your goals for your school this year?
A: One of our biggest school-wide goals this year is for 100% of our students to make at least one year’s worth of growth in reading. This is truly an “Every Eagle” goal because reading impacts success in every classroom and prepares students for life beyond high school.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I believe this is going to be a special year at SHS because there is a tremendous sense of energy, pride, and togetherness in our school. Our students and staff have embraced the idea that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. We are focused on creating a school where students feel connected, are challenged academically, have opportunities to get involved, and know that the adults in the building believe in them.
Our theme this year is “It’s Time to Climb,” and that represents exactly where we are as a school. We are not satisfied with simply maintaining—we want to keep growing, improving, and raising the bar in everything we do. Every Eagle, Every Hour, Every Future. It’s time to climb—Up… Up… UP!
Thank you, Jamie, for your dedication and daily leadership in our school and community!
You can come say hi to Jamie tonight at the SHS school tour from 7:00-8:30pm. Learn more about the recent Facility Assessments, the Long-Range Facilities Committee’s work, and the future of Stayton High School!
